Dry Instant Cold Pack and Method of Use

ABSTRACT

A dry instant cold pack includes approximately 50 g-55 g raw chemical fill materials contained in a pouch having a water filling nozzle. The raw chemical fill material is preferably ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) or urea, and the bag or pouch is preferably made of PE or PE Nylon. The dry instant cold pack has lower manufacturing cost and is easy to carry, transport and store. To activate and use, the user simply adds some water through water filling nozzle to produce a cooling effect within 30 seconds. The one-way nozzle prevents the water from flowing back out of the pouch.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The exemplary teachings herein pertain to a dry instant cold pack and method or producing and using the same. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to a dry instant cold pack comprising a bag or pouch and a chemical fill material which provides a cooling effect when activated, such as when mixed with added water.

BACKGROUND

An instant cold pack, as is known in the art, is a disposable product which can be used, in general, in health or medical applications when applied to various locations on a user's body, for example, for physical cooling, defervescence, anti-inflammation, and relief of pain caused by sprain, stanching, and skin care conditions serapes, cuts, bumps, bruises, burns, rashes, bites or other maladies), etc. The instant cold pack can produce a cooling effect in no resource conditions, the cold pack is self-contained and can be used by simply activating the instant cold pack without any other necessary parts or accessories.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,438,965 entitled Instant Cold Pack, issued to Liao on Aug. 27, 2002 relates to and/or discloses one such prior art instant cold pack, and is fully incorporated herein by reference. As can be seen therein, existing instant cold packs usually comprise an outer bag, a chemical fill material, and a sealed water bag inside the outer bag. The water bag is typically made from material including, for example, BOPP/CPP or BOPP/PE, with an explosion line or other portion allowing for the water bag to be broken or otherwise compromised such that the water will selectively exit the water bag and mix with the chemical fill material. When the water bag breaks, for example y a blow from the hand of a user, the mixture of the water with the chemical fill material will produce as cooling effect, after about 30 seconds or so.

Disadvantages of such known instant cold packs include that the cold packs are relatively bulky and heavy, and can be susceptible to unintentional activation or freezing of the water bags. The transportation and storage of the instant cold packs, especially of multiple instant cold packs, can be somewhat difficult, for example when desired to be stored in a small, portable first aid kit. When stored in a car truck for example, the instant cold pack could freeze in cold weather, rending it unusable while the water bag is frozen. When placed loosely in a gym bag for example, the instant cold pack could be unintentionally activated if the bag is hit or thrown, etc.

Accordingly, to address and overcome the inefficiencies, limitations and disadvantages of traditional instant cold packs described above, an improved instant cold pack is needed which is lighter weight, has smaller dimensions, in particular thickness, and is more readily portable prior to use. The dry instant cold pack and method of use disclosed herein fulfill such needs. It is desired that the presently disclosed product and method be applicable generally to any instances or applications involving the use of a liquid mixing with chemicals, or one substance mixing with another substance, to produce a desired result.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a dry instant cold pack and method of producing and using the same. The dry instant cold pack comprises a bag or pouch, which may be made from PE Nylon or other suitable material, which forms the instant cold pack. The dry instant cold pack further comprises a chemical fill material which may be made from ammonium nitrate or urea, or calcium ammonium nitrate or other chemicals or mix of chemicals which provide a cooling effect when activated, such as when mixed with water.

Unlike traditional instant cold packs, the dry instance cold pack of the present disclosure further comprises a fill valve or nozzle suitably affixed, attached or secured to the outer bag or pouch, such as by adhesive and/or lamination, in such a manner as to allow the introduction of a substance, such as water, into the interior of the bag or pouch, which substance can then mix with the chemical till material contained in the bag or pouch, to produce a cooling effect. The structure of the fill valve or nozzle is such that it functions as a check valve, clack valve, flap valve, non-return valve or one-way valve so as to normally allow liquid to flow through it in only one direction.

Also unlike traditional instant cold packs, the dry instance cold pack of the present disclosure does not include a water bag. Instead, water or another fluid or substance must be provided from an external source, through the fill valve or nozzle, and into the bag or pouch to activate the dry instant cold pack after mixing with the chemical till material inside the bag or pouch.

In this manner, the dry instant cold pack is dry or remains dry prior to use, and cannot freeze or unintentionally activate, due to the absence of a water bag or any liquid therein. Further, the dry instant cold pack is substantially flat relative to a traditional instant cold pack having a water bag, and is thus more readily transportable and storable. Similarly, the dry instant cold pack is lighter in weight relative to a traditional instance cold pack having a water bag, and is thus more readily transportable and storable.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following and the accompanying drawings or may be learned by production or operation of the examples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present teachings, by way of example only, not by way of limitation. In the drawing figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the dry instant cold pack of the present disclosure comprising in general a pouch 1 for containing the chemical fill material, and a fill valve or nozzle 2 through which water or other liquid or substance can be introduced into the pouch.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the fill valve or nozzle 2 of the dry instant cold pack of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a chart illustrating three different examples of chemical and water fill amounts and the resultant temperature condition, respectively, of the dry instant cold pack of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description refers to numerous specific details which are set forth by way of examples to provide a thorough understanding of the relevant teachings. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present teachings may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, and components have been described at a relatively high-level, without detail, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the present teachings.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 the dry instant cold pack of the present disclosure includes a bag or pouch 1 of suitable plastic material or the like, and a chemical fill material inside, such as ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, urea or other chemical fill materials which can produce a cooling effect. One elective amount of chemical fill material is approximately 55 g. The bag 1 also contains a fill valve or nozzle 2. The material of the bag or pouch preferably mainly includes PE and/or PE Nylon, and the material of fill valve or nozzle 2 is preferably made of PE thin film. The fill valve or nozzle has a self-closing structure 3, such as one or more rubber or plastic diaphragms or flaps, which substantially prevent water or other liquids or substances from flowing out while pouring or introducing water into the bag, such as from a faucet, water fountain, water bottle, syringe or even if necessary the user's mouth, and while using the cold pack.

The preferred weight and dimensions of the poly bag 1 are as follows; width and length 127 mm×153 mm; weight empty 3 g; single layer thickness 0.08 mm; thickness with chemicals inside approximately 6 mm; and thickness with water inside approximately 10 mm. The preferred weight and dimensions of the nozzle 2 are as follows: width and length 53 mm×122 mm; weight 0.74 g; and thickness 0.06 mm. The nozzle suitable attached between the two layers of the poly bag 1, and is seamed along the self-closing structure 3. As can be seen in FIG. 2, a top portion of the nozzle, for example 12 mm, remains unseamed, to assist the user in opening the nozzle to be able to insert the water. The thickness of the nozzle, along with the structure of the self-closing structure sufficiently serves to prevent water from escaping back out through the nozzle after being inserted into the bag. Due to the viscosity and surface tension of water, the water will not backflow after being inserted through the thin film of the water-filling opening of the nozzle.

Preferably, there are two water scale lines (for example representing 250 mL and 400 mL fill levels) on the bag. These lines can provide a reference for adding the water to various cooling effect levels. The dry instant cold pack cools quickly after water is added, as the raw material inside will dissolve rapidly in a short period and produce a cooling effect. The self-sealing water tilling nozzle will ensure that water will not flow out. The position of the fill line or lines can vary according to the amount or type of chemical fill material contained in the pouch to produce the desired cooling effect. In general, the amount of chemical fill material together with the amount of water added will affect the temperature and the duration of the cooling effect, and may be controlled as desired.

FIG. 3 is a chart illustrating different examples of the chemical and water fill amounts for each type of chemical, and the resultant temperatures reached in normal conditions, e.g., for a typical indoor use. These examples of the dry instant cold pack include approximately 50 g of raw chemical fill materials. The raw chemical fill materials of the examples are urea, ammonium nitrate (AN) and calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), respectively. Approximately 50 g of water is added to each example to produce a cooling effect. In general, the ratio of chemical and water is preferably approximately half and half for the dry instant ice pack of the present disclosure to produce the preferred, desired effect illustrated, in the chart of FIG. 3. However, the water) filling amount and/or the chemical amount can be adjusted to get different cooling effects or feeling. Further, different sized bags can have different amounts of chemicals and added water to achieve any desired result.

Advantages of the dry instant cold pack of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to:

-   -   The dry instant cold pack is more portable and convenient, and         has a lighter weight than traditional instant cold packs, and         eliminates a water bag structure, thereby eliminating the         possibility of unintentional activation, as well as the         potential for freezing. The dry instant cold pack also has         stable performance, and usage time can reach to approximately         one hour.     -   The production process for making the dry instant cold pack is         simplified and less costly relative to traditional instant cold         packs, as are shipping and storage costs less. There is no need         to make as water bag and no need to enclose a water bag in the         outer bag. The bag is simply made by, for example, a lamination         process, around the till material and with the nozzle formed         therein, or the fill material can be inserted through the nozzle         after the bag is formed. The smaller size and lighter weight dry         instant cold packs can ship and store on a scale of roughly 10         to 1 as compared to traditional instant cold packs.     -   The dry instant cold pack is easy to use and does not require a         striking force to break a water bag to activate, and is thus         easier to activate by some users, for example, younger children         or handicapped or disabled individuals. Activation is achieved         by simply adding some water, for example four ounces, into the         outer bag through the water filling nozzle. This will produce a         cooling effect within approximately 30 seconds. Unlike         traditional instant cold packs, different cooling effects, each         with a different cool feeling, can be produced by adding         different water amounts, as may be indicated by or instructed         according to different water till level lines, to is variably         treat different medical conditions or health issues accordingly.

In an alternate embodiment, the dry instant cold pack can be reuseable or rechargeable by the introduction of additional water, after a first initial use, such that any remaining chemical fill that has not dissolved after the initial use, may be activated to produce a subsequent cooling effect after the initial use. Conversely, additional chemical fill could be introduced into the pouch through the valve after an initial use. Still further, the pouch may be compartmentalized, having distinct, areas each containing its own chemical fill material. The pouch could then have more than one fill nozzle to introduce water selectively into one of the individual compartments of the pouch. In this manner, one compartment may be activated and provide a cooling effect for about an hour, and then another compartment could be activated to provide a second cooling effect for another hour, and so one. For example, opposite surfaces of the pouch could each comprise a separate compartment, and one side could be activated through a first nozzle and used, and then the pouch can be turned over and be activated again through a second nozzle and used on both sides independently. Further, different compartments could contain different chemical fill materials or different amounts of fill material to produce different cooling effects, or may have different fill lines, etc.

It should be understood that the components of the device(s) or product(s) disclosed herein can take any suitable form, including any suitable materials or components capable of adequately performing their respective intended functions, as may be known in the art. Further, while the embodiment(s) are illustrative of the structure, function and operation of the exemplary device(s) or product(s) and method(s), it should be understood that various modifications may be made thereto with departing from the teachings herein.

While the foregoing discussion presents the teachings in an exemplary fashion with) respect to the disclosed dry instant cold pack and method of producing and using the same, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure may apply to any type of device, product or method where one substance is to be mixed with another substance to produce a desired result. Further, while the foregoing has described what are considered to be the best mode and/or other examples, it is understood that various modifications may be made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may be implemented in various forms and examples, and that the product(s) and method(s) may be applied in numerous applications, only some of which have been described herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An instant cold pack comprising: a pouch containing a fill material capable of producing a cooling effect; and a fill nozzle or valve in the pouch.
 2. The instant cold pack of claim 1, wherein the pouch containing the fill material is substantially flat prior to use.
 3. The instant cold pack of claim 1, wherein the pouch containing the fill material is light weight prior to use.
 4. The instant cold pack of claim 1, wherein the pouch containing the fill material does not include, a water bag.
 5. A method of using an instant cold pack comprising the steps of: adding water through a nozzle into a pouch containing a fill material capable of producing a cooling effect when mixing with water; and applying the pouch to a treatment area. 